Shipping and/or dispensing container



Dec. 4, 1962 w. N. JOHNSON 3,066,843

SHIPPING AND/0R DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed July 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1. Neil Jobnsqn Dec. 4, 1962 w. N. JOHNSON SHIPPING AND/OR DISPENSING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Inventor eil Johnson Filed July 28, 1959 IALN @dm Dec. 4, 1962 w. N. JOHNSON SHIPPING AND/OR DISPENSING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1959 Inventor W. Neil Johnson.

M "H-lrkorrzeg/ W. N. JOHNSON SHIPPING AND/0R DISPENSING CONTAINER Dec. 4, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a WW Id 2 I I HM K Filed July 28, 1959 Inventor IALNeil Johnson 5 [K M fi'ftorneg/ United States Patent Laboratories, North Chicago, BL, a corporation of lilinois Filed Italy 28, 1959, Ser. No. 83%,975 6 Claims. {(1 229-317) This invention relates to a sheet carton or container which is adapted to serve as a shipping container for bottles or the like and, subsequent to shipping, the carton is also adapted to serve as a dispensing container.

There are presently being employed many types of shipping cartons some of which serve also as dispensing devices once they have arrived at their destination. In the shipment of bottles or other relatively fragile receptacles there is at present no satisfactory carton which serves the dual purpose of a shipping and dispensing carton. When it is desired to ship fragile receptacles it is necessary to provide adequate measures against breakage such as the use of packing material or else to provide suificient separators or partitions between the containers. Employing the previously mentioned materials poses many problems once the carton has arrived at its destination and it is desired to remove its contents. Where packing material is used one must encounter the inconvenience of ripping open the entire carton and, in addition, avoid scattering the packing material which in itself is troublesome to handle. if separators or partitions are employed one must also tear open the entire carton in order to obtain the contents thereof.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a carton which will serve both as a shipping and dispensing container.

it is also an object of this invention to provide a shipping carton which will prevent breakage of the fragile material shipped therein and also to dispense the same.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing carton which is easily accessible and which can be placed in a convenient location upon arrival at its destination.

The above and further objects and features of this invention will in part be apparent and will in part be obvious from the following detailed description and the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a carton blank in accordance with the embodiments of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a magazine blank, the embodiment of which will be herein further explained;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the magazine blank of FEGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank illustrated in FIGURE 1 showing two magazine cartons disposed therein formed from the blank illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 having bottles disposed within said magazine cartons;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of FlGURE 4 with the bottles removed therefrom;

FEGURE 6 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 5 showing the magazine disposed therein;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the magazine blank of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of FIGURE 7 with top flaps removed therefrom.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, solid lines have been used to indicate lines of cut, double solid lines have been used to indicate scored lines along which the said material is intended to be bent and double broken lines to indicate perforated lines along which the said material is intended to be torn.

The carton blanks may be made of any appropriate Patented B oc. l 1962 sheet material, but material which is moisture proof is preferred.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the carton or container blank is defined by a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines and includes a front wall panel 1t], side wall panels 11 and 12, and a rear wall panel 13 hinged to the longitudinally extending lateral edge of side wall panel 12. A top closure panel 14, is hinged to the upper edge of front wall panel 10, and a bottom closure panel is, is hinged to the lower edge of front wall panel ill. The outer ends of the closure panels 14 and 15 are scored along a transversely extending line spaced inwardly from the edges thereof forming a top end flap l6 and a bottom end flap 17. A reinforcing flap 1% is hinged to the longitudinally extending lateral edge of rear wall panel 13 and is secured to side wall panel ll by means of a suitable adhesive when a container is formed from the carton blank.

The top end i'lap 16 is adapted to fit entirely inside the upper edge of rear wall panel 13, and similarly, the bottom end iiap '17 is adapted to iit entirely inside the lower edge of rear wall panel 13. i

The above mentioned flaps it? and 17 are securely held in their respective positions by having spaced inwardly short distance from the opposite lateral edges thereof, two transversely extending slits or cut lines 19 and 259, respectively.

Top extension flaps 21 and 2d are hinged to the upper edges of side panels ii and 12, respectively, and the bottom extension flaps 22 and 22 are hinged to the lower edges of side panels ii and 12, respectively. The top extension flaps 2i and 21 are generally rectangular in shape and when the blank is folded into a carton, the top flaps overlap forming a reinforced platform and support for the top of the carton and its contents.

The bottom extension flaps 22 and 22 are also generally rectangular in shape except for one side of each flap which is cut at an approximate 45 angle. The bottom extension flaps 22 and 22' form a reinforced platform or support for the bottom of the carton and its contents when the blank is folded into a carton. Side extension flaps 23 and 23 which are hinged to the lateral edges of bottom closure panel 15 forming in the same manner as flaps 22 and 22 a reinforced platform. The side extension fiaps 23 and 23' are likewise of a generally rectangular shape having one side of each flap cut at an approximate 45 angle, the 45 angle sides of side extension flaps 23 and 23' being disposed adjacent to the 45 angle sides of bottom extension flaps 22 and 22', respectively.

The carton blank is also provided with a generally rectangular suspending tab 24 which is hinged to the upper edge of rear well panel 13 and is divided into two suspending sections 25 and 25 by means of transversely extending scored line 26. In the approximate center of each suspending section 25 and 25' of suspending tab 24 two annular incomplete cuts 27 and 27', respectively, are made, so as to provide when a carton is formed from the blank, and the annular cuts 27 and 27' pressed out, an opening wherein a supporting peg or the like can be inserted to suspend the carton. During shipment of the carton suspending tab 24 lies flatly folded against the upper surface of top closure panel 14.

Disposed on the bottom edge of rear wall panel 13 is supporting flap 28 which is hinged to and cut from rear wall panel 13. Spaced inwardly a short distance from the outer end of supporting flap 23 is a lateral extending scored line 29 forming tongue 30 which, when the carton is formed from the blank, is accommodated by slit 31 disposed in bottom closure panel 15 and thereby supports the bottom of said carton.

Perforated lines 43 and 44 transversely extending in the lower portion of front wall panel 10 and side wall aortas-ta panels 11 and 12 as well as perforated and cut lines 45 and 46 longitudinally extending in the lower portions of side wall panels 11 and 12, respectively, the longitudinally extending lines 45 and 46 being curved to connect transversely extending parallel lines 43 and 44, define a generally rectangularly removable portion 47 of the carton blank which can be easily removed therefrom to form an opening for purposes which will be further explained. For the present it will be noted that the transversely extending lines 43 and 44 as well as said longitudinally extending lines 45 and 46 define not only a generally rectangular opening in the lower portion of front wall panel but also a contiguous and somewhat smaller generally rectangular opening in side wall panels 11 and 12.

As illustrated in FlGURE 2 the magazine carton or magazine blank is defined by the plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom and includes a back wall panel 32, side wall panels 33 and 34 hinged along the opposite side edges of the back wall panel, and top and bottom wall panels 35 and 36, respectively, hinged along the top and bottom edges of back wall panel 32.

In side wall panel 34 there is provided in a longitudinally spaced manner separating partition panels 37, 38, 39, 4t} and 41 which are formed from side wall panel 34 by cutting a generally semicircular arc in said panel, said partition panels being hinged to side wall panel 34 by means of scored lines 37, 38', 39, 4% and 41, respectively. All of said partition panels are of the same dimension except partition panel 41 which has a smaller radius of curvature and is not of full semicircular dimension, it being shortened by a cut made at an obtuse angle from its circumference to scored line 41' thereof. The partition panels 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 are of such dimension to substantially separate the contents of the magazine when the partition panels 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 are folded inwardly in an operative position.

A tray-like magazine is formed from the magazine blank of FIGURE 2 by folding side wall panels 33 and 34 inwardly along with top and bottom wall panels 35 and 36, as shown in FIGURE 3, and applying an adhesive tape or the like to the contiguous open edges of said side wall panels and said top and bottom wall panels to form four corners in said magazine thereby. When the magazine is assembled separation partition panels 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 are forced inwardly to about a 90 angle to side wall panel 34 thereby forming separation partition panels for bottles 43 or the like as shown in FIGURE 4.

As further illustrated in FIGURE 4 two magazine cartons containing 6 bottles each are employed in the preferred embodiment of this invention and when placed side by side are accommodated in compact rectangular alignment within the carton formed from the blank of FIGURE 1.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8 of the drawing a container is illustrated which is substantially similar to the magazine carton of FIGURES 2 and 3 and is formed from a blank in a similar manner. The modified container is comprised of a front wall panel 4R and oppositely disposed side wall panels 50 and 51, respectively, which are hingedly attached along the lateral side edges of front wall panel 49. Rear wall panel 52 is hinged to the side edge of side wall panel 51 at the side opposite front wall panel 43. Hinged to the lateral edge of rear Wall panel 52 at the side opposite side wall panel 51 is reinforcing flap 53 which is joined to side wall panel 50 by means of a suitable adhesive. Front wall panel 49 also has a bottom wall panel 54 hinged along the lower longitudinal edge thereof. Bottom closure panel 54 is joined to rear Wall panel 52 by means of a reinforcing flap 55 which is hinged to the lower longitudinal edge of said bottom wall panel 54 and is secured to said rear wall panel 52 by means of a suitable adhesive. Hingedly attached along the top edges of side wall panels 50 and 51 are extension flaps 56 and 57, respectively. A top closure panel 58 is hinged to the upper longitudinal edge of rear wall panel 52, the outer end of said closure panel 58 being scored along a longitudinally extending scored line spaced a short distance inwardly from the outer edge thereof to provide an end flap 59. Top closure panel 58 is securedly held in a closed position by having spaced a short distance inwardly from the opposite lateral edges of said panel 58, along the longitudinally extending scored line from end flap 59, two longitudinally extending slit or cut lines 60. Cut lines 60 engage laterally extending protrusions 61 disposed on the front lateral edges of extension flaps 56 and 57 when end flap 59 is placed immediately to the inside of front wall panel 49.

In front wall panel 49 there is provided in a longitudinally spaced manner separating partitions 62, 63, 64 and 65 which are formed from front wall panel 49 by cutting a generally semi-circular arc as previously described in forming the partition sections 37, 38, 39 and 40' of the magazine blank shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The modified carton is also provided with reinforcing flaps 66 and 67 which are hinged to the bottom edges of side panels 56 and 57 respectively and rest above bottom wall panel 54.

When the carton containing the filled magazines arrives at its destination it is easily transformed into a dispensing carton, as shown in FIGURE 5, by bending the two suspending partition sections 25 and 25', of suspending tab 24, upwardly and inserting lower edge of suspending section 25 between top end closure 16 and the upper inside edge of rear wall panel 13. The two incomplete annular cuts 27 and 27 are pressed out to form an opening 42 into which a supporting peg can be inserted and the carton thereby suspended. Or in the alternative, the carton can be set upright on a suitable surface with the suspending tab 24 remaining flatly folded across the upper surface of top closure panel 14. Vlith the carton placed in the preferred position the lower removable portion 47 of front wall panel 10 and side wall panels 11 and 12 as defined by perforated lines 43, 44, 45 and 46 is torn loose to expose the heads of the two lowest bottles contained in the magazines. The removable portion 47 can be completely removed from the carton or can be left hingedly attached by failure to tear across perforated line 44. It will be noted that when removable portion 47 is completely removed or left hingedly attached easy access is provided to the lowest bottles by means of a contiguous opening into side wall panels 11 and 12.

With the filled magazines positioned in the carton as previously described, anyone wishing to remove a bottle therefrom simply withdraws one of the lowest exposed bottles thereby causing separation partition panels 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 to fall back toward their respective openings and allowing each remaining bottle to descend into the space previously occupied by the next lower adjacent bottle.

The modified embodiment shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 is employed both as an independent shipping carton and as a magazine tray for the novel dispensing carton. Top panel 58 is removed by tearing along longitudinally extending perforated line 68 disposed along the upper edge of back Wall panel 52. Extension flaps 56 and 57 are removed by tearing along perforated lines 69 and 70 disposed transversely along the upper edge of side wall panels 56 and 57, respectively. With top panel 58 and extension flaps 56 and 57 removed from said magazine carton the carton is inserted into the novel dispensing carton disclosed herein in the manner previously described for the magazine tray.

The modified carton of this invention can be employed as a shipping and storing container by not removing top panel 58 and extension flaps 56 and 57 therefrom, as thus employed the openings in front wall panel 49 from which separating partition panels 62, 63, 64 and 65 are formed provide a means through which the contents of the carton can be readily viewed.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention employs two magazine cartons containing bottles therein, it should be understood that any number of magazines could be placed in the manner described within an accommodating carton and fall within the scope of this invention.

it should be further understood that while the novel carton has been illustrated as a shipping and/ or dispensing container for bottles it can also be employed to ship and/or dispense any receptacles which are fragile or which for various reasons it is desired to keep the receptacles separated.

The carton described and illustrated above can undergo structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service, by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof. As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter.

I claim:

1. A container for shipping and dispensing fragile receptacles comprising in combination: a container formed from a container blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from the top to the bottom for providing front and rear wall panels and oppositely disposed side wall panels of a container with means for joining the contiguous lateral edges of said container blank, said panels providing extension panels at the opposite edges thereof to form top and bottom closure panels for an inner compartment; at least one magazine carton formed from a magazine blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing a back wall panel and oppositely disposed side wall panels, said magazine blank being cut to provide a separating partition panel in the one side wall panel thereof between said receptacles, said container being of such dimension to accommodate said magazine carton therein in compact rectangular alignment, and said container blank being perforated to provide an opening in the lower portion of said container, said partition panel being hinged to fold downwardly toward the opening in the container under the weight of a receptacle when said container with said magazine is placed in an upright position and one of said receptacles is removed through said opening.

2. A container for shipping and dispensing fragile receptacles comprising in combination: a container formed from a container blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing front and rear wall panels and oppositely disposed side wall panels of a container with means for joining the contiguous lateral edges of said container blank, said panels providing extension panels at the opposite edges thereof to form top and bottom closure panels for an inner compartment, said rear wall panel having a suspending tab connected to the upper end of said panel; at least one magazine carton formed from a magazine blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing a back wall panel and oppositely disposed side wall panels, said magazine blank being cut to provide a separating partition panel in the one side wall panel thereof between said receptacles, said container being of such dimension to accommodate said magazine carton therein in compact rectangular alignment, and said container blank being perforated to provide an opening in the lower portion of said container, said partition panel being hinged to fold downwardly toward the opening in the container under the weight of a receptacle when said container with said magazine is placed in an upright position and one of said receptacles is removed through said opening.

3. A container for shipping and dispensing fragile receptacles comprising in combination: a container formed from a container blank havin a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from the top to the bottom for providing front and rear wall panels and oppositely disposed side wall panels of a container with means for joining the contiguous lateral edges of said container blank, said panels providing extension panels at the op posite edges thereof to form top and bottom closure panels for an inner compartment, extension panels being generally rectangular in shape connected to the upper and lower ends of said panels, said rear wall panel having a suspending tab at the upper end of said panel; at least one magazine carton formed from a magazine blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing a back wall panel and oppositely disposed side Wall panels, said magazine blank being cut to provide a separating partition panel in the one side wall panel thereof between said receptacles, said container being of such dimension to accommodate said magazine carton therein in compact rectangular alignment, and said container blank being perforated to provide an opening in the lower portion of said container, said partition panel being hinged to fold downwardly toward the opening in the container under the weight of a receptacle when said container with said magazine is placed in an upright position and one of said receptacles is removed through said opening.

4. A container for shipping and dispensing fragile receptacles comprising in combination: a container formed from a container blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing front and rear wall panels and oppositely disposed side wall panels of a container with means for joining the contiguous lateral edges of said container blank, each of said wall panels providing extension panels at the opposite edges thereof to form top and bottom closure panels for an inner compartment, said rear wall panel having a suspending tab connected to the upper end thereof; at least one magazine carton formed from a magazine blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing a back wall panel, oppositely disposed side wall panels, top and bottom wall panels with means for joining the contiguous open edges of said side wall panels and said top and bottom wall panels of the magazine blank, said magazine blank being cut to provide a separating partition panel in the one side wall panel thereof between said receptacles, said container being of such dimension to accommodate said magazine carton therein in compact rectangular alignment, said container blank being perforated to provide a generally rectangular opening in the lower portion of said front wall panel and said side wall panels of said container, said partition panel being hinged to fold downwardly toward the opening in the container under the weight of a receptacle when said container with said magazine is placed in an upright position and one of said receptacles is removed through said opening.

5. A container for shipping and dispensing fragile receptacles comprising in combination: a container formed from a container blank having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing front and rear wall panels and oppositely disposed side wall panels of a container with means for joining the contiguous lateral edges of said container blank, each of said wall panels having extension panels at the opposite edges thereof to form top and bottom closure panels for an inner compartment, said rear wall panel having a suspending tab connected to the upper end of said panel; a pair of magazine cartons formed from a pair of magazine blanks each having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom providing for a back wall panel and oppositely disposed side Wall panels, each magazine blank being cut to provide a plurality of separating partition panels in the one side wall panel thereof between said receptacles, said container being of such dimension to accommodate said magazine cartons therein in compact rectangular alignment, said container blank being perforated to provide a generally rectangular opening in the lower portions of said front wall panel and said side wall panels of said container, said partition panels being hinged to fold downwardly toward the opening in the container under the weight of a receptacle when said container with said magazine is placed in an upright position and one of said receptacles is removed through said opening.

6. A container for shipping and dispensing fragile receptacles comprising in combination: a container formed from a container blank having a plurality of rect linearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing front and rear wall panels and oppositely disposed side wall panels of a container with means for joining the conti uons lateral edges of said container lank, said front panel having extension panels at the opposite edges thereof providing top and bottom closure panels for an inner compartment, each of said extension panels having spaced inwardly a short distance from the opposite lateral edges thereof two transversely extending cut lines, said side wall panels having top and bottom extension flaps connected to the upper and lower ends thereof, each of said extension flaps being generally rectangular in shape except for the bottom extension flaps having one side of each flap cut at an approximate 45 angle, side extension flaps connected to the lateral edges of said bottom closure panel, said side extension flaps having one side of each flap cut at an approximate 45 angle, the 45 angle sides of said side extension flaps being disposed adjacent to the 45 angle side of said bottom extension flaps, a generally rectangular suspending tab connected to the upper edge of rear wall panel, said suspending tab having an annular opening therein, a generally rectangular supporting flap connected to the {3 0 lower end of said rear wall panel'having a tongue defined therefrom for engagement with a slit cut in the said bottom closure panel; a pair of magazine cartons formed from a pair of magazine blanks each having a plurality of rectilinearly scored lines extending from top to bottom for providing a back wall panel and oppositely disposed side wall panels, each magazine blank being cut in a semicircular manner 'to provide a plurality of separating partition panels in the one side wall panel thereof between said receptacles, said container being of such dimension to accommodate said magazine cartonstherein in compact rectangular alignment, said container blank being perforated to provide a generally rectangular opening in the lower portion of said front wall panel of said container and a contiguous somewhat smaller generally rectangular opening in the said side wall panels of said container, said partition panels being hinged to fold downwardly toward the opening in the container under the weight or" the receptacles when said container with said magazine is placed in an upright position and one of said receptacles is removed through said openihg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,372 Richman Aug. 20, 1929 1,850,254 Zimmerman Mar. 22, 1932 1,915,341 Walker et a1 June 27, 1933 2,295,313 Weir Sept. 8, 1942 2,336,382 Albrecht Dec. 7, 1943 2,595,202 Pardee Apr. 29, 1952 2,604,983 Moore July 29, 1952 2,804,254 Neso Aug. 27, 1957 2,883,098 Horner et al. Apr. 21, 1959 

